Simple steps to build your own terrarium (2023)

Terrariums, sometimes referred to as "gardens under glass," make wonderful and impressive gifts, even for people who consider themselves a plant challenge. Regardless of the size of the terrarium, it will have four levels including gravel, moss, soil and plants.

What is a terrarium?

A terrarium is an indoor garden container that contains plants. It is usually made of glass that is fully or partially closed to let in heat and light and seal in moisture. The term "terrarium" is made up of the Latin words "terra" (earth) plus "arium" (place or vessel).

There are many purposes for a terrarium. They can only be created for decoration, scientific observation or plant propagation. You can assemble a simple terrarium in an hour or two with very few inexpensive materials, including many types of glass containers that make beautiful DIY terrarium containers. The adorable miniature terrarium plants usually only cost a few dollars. If you're interested in building a terrarium, read on to learn how to build or buy your own and how to choose and care for plants.

before it begins

Larger terrariums can handle slightly larger houseplants, but avoid fast-growing species or those with large leaves that can block the light needed by smaller plants. When considering terrarium plants, look for plants that thrive in low to medium light. Choose a mix of leaf sizes, textures, and colors for visual appeal.

Select plants that don't mind the naturally humid environment of a terrarium. Avoid cacti and succulents in an enclosed terrarium - these plants do best in fully open containers filled with potting soil that contains a lot of coarse sand.

Here are some examples of plant species that will do well in a terrarium:

african violet
Pothos (commonly known as Devil's Vine)
polka dot plant
little Fern
lucky bamboo
nerve plant
prayer plant
Moos
creeping fig

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Click play to learn how to build a simple terrarium

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what will you need

equipment / tools

Large spoon or garden trowel
Small garden clippings or scissors for pruning plant roots
spray bottle

materials

Glass containers without drainage holes, with or without a lid
Clean aquarium gravel or a small crushed stone
Activated charcoal (available at day care centers or pet stores)
terrarium plants
Sterile potting soil
Moosblatt
Decoration elements (optional)

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instructions

Simple steps to build your own terrarium (4)

instructions

choose a container
Choosing the container and plants is half the fun of terrarium building. There are many specialized terrarium containers that you can buy, even some that look like miniature Victorian-style greenhouses or conservatories that sell for hundreds of dollars.
But you can use almost any clear container (glass or plastic) with a wide opening (with or without a lid) to create a terrarium. Suitable containers include aquariums, goldfish bowls, Wardian cases, cold frames, bell jars, tureens, apothecary jars, cloches,mason jars, glass cookie jars and even large brandy flutes. A wide opening allows you to put your hand inside the container to add drainage material, soil, plants and decorative elements (shells, figures or ornaments).
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Open terrariums arehave less problemsfor condensation water and fungal plant diseases as closed terrariums.
Select the plants
Most garden centers will stock miniature terrarium plants, sometimes in the store's section that includes fairy garden accessories. Chooseterrarium plantswith various leaf shapes and heights small enough to fit in its container, preferably without touching the sides of the terrarium.
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Add drainage layers
A terrarium container does not have drainage holes, so you need to create a drainage layer to keep water away from the roots of the plant. Start with a 2 inch layer of gravel or crushed stone at the bottom of the terrarium. A tall, narrow terrarium will need a deeper layer of drainage rocks than a wide, shallow container.
Then use a large spoon or spatula to spread a 1/4 to 1/2 inch layer of activated charcoal over the stones to aid drainage and control odors.
Add moss and potting soil
Then add a layerMoosblattover the rocks and charcoal to keep the next layer, the potting soil, from mixing. Moss also adds visual interest to your terrarium.
Using a large spoon or small trowel, spread sterile, slightly damp soil over the moss. Do not use potting mix with fertilizer already incorporated; Terrarium plants do not need any additional fertilizer.
Add as much soil mix as you can—at least a few inches. Be sure to keep the soil low enough to allow the plants to fit in the container and have room to grow, but not touch the top of an enclosed terrarium.
Prepare the plants
Decide on your terrarium design before planting. Choose the places where you place tall and low plants and where you create hills and depressions in the ground to create interesting contours.
See Also
キャベツ：事実、利点、世話をし、自宅で簡単に育てる方法自宅でテラリウムを作る方法 – 多肉植物や苔などを使った 10 ステップ堆肥と培養土: 主な違い |庭師多肉植物でお金を稼ぐ7つの方法 - CactusWay
Remove the plants from their nursery pots.When a plant is rooted, separate the roots or use some small garden scraps to trim some of the longer roots. Removing some of the roots, called root pruning, slows a plant's growth, which is essential when growing plants in a terrarium. Also cut off any yellowed or damaged leaves.
add plants
Shake off excess soil from the plants. Use a long spoon or your fingers to dig a planting hole for each plant. Place each plant in its hole and gently tap the soil to eliminate air pockets and firmly secure each plant to the potting soil.
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If the terrarium has a narrow opening, use chopsticks, tweezers, or long tongs to place the plants in the terrarium and pet them. Taking a tip from Tovah Martin's book The New Terrarium, place a cork on the end of a skewer or chopstick to compact the soil.
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Decorate
If you wish, decorate the interior of the terrarium with small figurines, shells, decorative stones or other whimsical details interspersed among the plants.
water the terrarium
Use a spray bottle or small watering can with a rose attachment in the spout to water the plants so that they are just damp but not soggy. Use the spray bottle to wipe off any dirt stuck to the glass walls of the container, which you can wipe off with newspaper or a paper towel.
note
Never use glass cleaner in a planted terrarium as this can harm the plants.
hold the plants
Most terrariums work best in a spot that gets plenty of filtered light, but not in direct sunlight, where the terrarium can get hot enough to roast the plants inside. Slightly shaded south-facing windows are ideal. If you don't have enough filtered natural sunlight - because your house is surrounded by deciduous trees, for example - artificial grow lights will help your plants thrive. Artificial LED or fluorescent lights typically don't generate much heat, so your plants get as much light as they need to thrive.
Maintaining a terrarium is easy. Do these three tasks every few weeks:
- Feel the soil to see if it is dry and needs water. Partially and fully enclosed terrariums hold water longer than most potted plants.
- Check an enclosed terrarium for condensation. Remove the lid at least once a month to increase airflow. Leave the lid open until the condensation disappears. Also remove the terrarium lid if you have added too much water.
- Remove any yellowed or damaged leaves and cut the plants smaller if they get too big for the container.
Never fertilize plants in the terrarium. Terrariums provide their own nutrients through the natural breakdown of the potting soil.
See Also
アフリカのカラフルなオオアカガエルの世話と育てる - 爬虫類マガジン